27th Amendment

Originally proposed Sept. 25, 1789. Ratified May 7, 1992.

No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of representatives shall have intervened.

Breakdown...


The 27th Amendment:

• Prohibits any law that increases or decreases the salary of members of Congress from taking effect until the start of the next set of terms of office for Representatives. 
• Most recent amendment to the United States Constitution.

Additional Information on this Amendment:

• This amendment was part of the original Twelve amendments in the 1789 Bill of Rights. This amendment was only ratified by seven states, thus prohibiting it from making it into the Constitution. Only ten of the original twelve amendments made it into what we know as the current Bill of Rights.

This is a funny image that depicts the common view that members of congress are only concerned about their well-being. During the Governmental shutdown Congressman continued to receive pay. They used the 27th Amendment to justify this. I believe the 27th Amendment is good because it prohibits Congress from voting themselves a raise.

This image depicts the view that Congress is basically selfish. Due to the fact that even if we cut or suspended their pay, they make so much income that they would not really suffer, although their would be an uproar. Why does Congress make so much income? I believe it is because they want to be viewed as upper class people, it generates more respect in their eyes and in other upper class citizens eyes. Would an upper class citizen have more or less respect for Congress if they made minimum wage? I personally would have more respect if they chose to be in Congress to make a positive change, and they constantly were proactive regardless of the pay.

26th Amendment

Passed by Congress March 23, 1971. Ratified July 1, 1971.

Section 1.
The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of age.

Section 2.
The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

Breakdown...

The 26th Amendment:

• Prohibits the states and the federal government from denying the right of US citizens, eighteen years of age or older, to vote on account of age.

More information on this Amendment:

•  The movement to lower the voting age from 21 to 18 in the 1960s, was mainly driven by the broader student activism movement protesting the Vietnam War.
•  The impetus for drafting a Constitutional amendment to lower the voting age arose following the Supreme Court's decision in Oregon v. Mitchell, 400 U.S. 112 (1970), which held that Congress may set requirements for voting in federal elections, but is prohibited from setting requirements in state and local elections.

The 26th Amendment was driven by these student activists, many of whom were injured or killed while protesting the Vietnam War. The people opposed to the war at the time were referred to as Hippies. A derogatory term for a peace seeker. It is usually the younger generation that can find the fault that the older generation has become accustomed to, such as the right for an 18yr old to vote.

These men are protesting against the idea that  at 18, you can not vote, but you can be drafted to fight in the Vietnam war. I do believe this to be a great injustice.

25th Amendment

Passed by Congress July 6, 1965. Ratified February 10, 1967.

Section 1.
In case of the removal of the President from office or of his death or resignation, the Vice President shall become President.

Section 2.
Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the Vice President, the President shall nominate a Vice President who shall take office upon confirmation by a majority vote of both Houses of Congress.

Section 3.
Whenever the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that he is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, and until he transmits to them a written declaration to the contrary, such powers and duties shall be discharged by the Vice President as Acting President.

Section 4.
Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President.

Thereafter, when the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that no inability exists, he shall resume the powers and duties of his office unless the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive department or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit within four days to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office. Thereupon Congress shall decide the issue, assembling within forty-eight hours for that purpose if not in session. If the Congress, within twenty-one days after receipt of the latter written declaration, or, if Congress is not in session, within twenty-one days after Congress is required to assemble, determines by two-thirds vote of both Houses that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall continue to discharge the same as Acting President; otherwise, the President shall resume the powers and duties of his office.

Breakdown...

25th Amendment:

• Establishes procedures for filling a vacancy in the office of the Vice President.
• Deals with succession to the Presidency.
• Deals with  how to  respond to Presidential disabilities.
• Supercedes Article II, Section 1, Clause 6 of the Constitution, which does not state whether the Vice President becomes the President, or just an Acting President, if the President dies, resigns, is removed from office or is unable to discharge the powers of the presidency.

 List of Succession if something happened to the President, Vice President, Speaker of the House,....etc:

Vice President
Speaker of the House
President Pro Tempore of the Senate
Secretary of State
Secretary of the Treasury
Secretary of Defense
Attorney General
Secretary of the Interior
Secretary of Agriculture
Secretary of Commerce
Secretary of Labor
Secretary of Health and Human Services
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
Secretary of Transportation
Secretary of Energy
Secretary of Education
Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Secretary of Homeland security

I like this video because it shows a good example of  the disorganization of  not having a a Presidential succession. I like how it ends with basically saying "raise your hand if you want to become President." Organization is key to any society regardless of location.


This image depicts the idea that a President can be a sort of dictator in a sense. Some people may think the line of succession is not a good thing because not all the people within the line of succession may be seen as worthy of presidency. In a way it would seem like the people would not have much of a say in who becomes President should something happen to him.



 This image of a dino depicts the notion that maybe our list of successors are too long.

24th Amendment

Passed by Congress August 27, 1962. Ratified January 23, 1964.

Section 1.
The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election for President or Vice President, for electors for President or Vice President, or for Senator or Representative in Congress, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State by reason of failure to pay any poll tax or other tax.

Section 2.
The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

Breakdown...

The 24th Amendment:

• Prohibits Congress and the states from conditioning the right to vote in federal elections on payment of a poll tax.
•  Made poll tax unconstitutional in regards to federal elections. 

Additional info relating to the 24th Amendment:

• In 1966, after the case of  Harper v. Virginia Board of Elections, poll taxes for state elections were considered unconstitutional because they violated the 14th Amendment under the  Equal Protection Clause.
• The poll taxes inhibited many poor and African American's from voting in state elections.

This group of people protest against the injustice of poll taxes that inhibited many poor and African Americans from voting. The poll tax is another instance of segregation among social classes. This issue of poll taxing was ignored by many, which goes to show we are the one's that have to make a change. The first step towards fixing a problem is pointing it out.

Not everyone was happy with the decision to end the Southern states poll taxes.These three civil rights workers, Michael Schwerner, Andrew Goodman, and James Chaney, were killed by local segregationist law enforcement officials near Philadelphia, Mississippi. Although this would seem strange to happen now, it was not seen as uncommon in the 1960's. We must remember that even if a rule/law such as poll taxes is implemented and agreed on by a majority of society, it is not always a good rule/law. We must always think of the other side in every situation.

23rd Amendment

Passed by Congress June 16, 1960. Ratified March 29, 1961.

Section 1.
The District constituting the seat of Government of the United States shall appoint in such manner as Congress may direct:

A number of electors of President and Vice President equal to the whole number of Senators and Representatives in Congress to which the District would be entitled if it were a State, but in no event more than the least populous State; they shall be in addition to those appointed by the States, but they shall be considered, for the purposes of the election of President and Vice President, to be electors appointed by a State; and they shall meet in the District and perform such duties as provided by the twelfth article of amendment.

Section 2.
The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

Breakdown...

Basic Meaning:
Washington DC may appoint and may have as many electors in the Electoral College as if it were a state. The smallest state has three electoral votes and the 23rd amendment limits DC from having more votes than any other state, regardless of the DC population.
The status and position of these electors is equivalent to other electors.
The 12th amendment provides for the creation of the Electoral College and those electors selected for DC under the 23rd amendment will be expected to carry out that same responsibilities.
Congress has the responsibility to ensure that the provisions of the 23rd amendment are enforced and DC has its electoral votes applied to subsequence presidential elections.

More Basically-The Electoral College, in 1787, granted votes only to states. Until 1961, people who lived in the District of Columbia weren't able to vote for president. The 23rd Amendment gave DC residents a number of presidential electors (3) equal to those of the least populous state.

The 23rd Amendment:

• Amended Article 2 section 2, president seeks out council of States.
• Washington DC is allowed 3 electoral votes (it is not considered to be a state).
• The 23rd amendment may end in the event that DC residents get their voting rights.
• Extends the right to vote in the presidential election to citizens residing in the District of Columbia by granting the District electors in the Electoral College, as if it were a state. 

This image depicts a shiny promise of Democracy that hangs above the Capitol, while a voice from inside basically says voting rites for DC is ridiculous and a man appears to have been thrown out with the trash his proposed amendment (referring to the 1970's when an amendment was proposed to allow Washington to be viewed as a State was disregarded) thrown out with him, he holds up an American flag relating to his American citizenship, and has a sign around his neck that says "DC Votes". This promise of Democracy is a contradiction due to the fact that Washington D.C. is a city that is larger than 12 states, but does not have a house or senate representative.

This video is a simple entertaining 6 min informative lecture on the 23rd Amendment, and how Washington DC does not have a voice in the government. They also bring up the proposed amendment of the 1970's requesting Washington to be viewed as a State, especially due to it's large size. I do believe this to be a sort of segregation. 

22nd Amendment (term limits)

Passed by Congress March 21, 1947. Ratified February 27, 1951.

Section 1.
No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of President more than once. But this Article shall not apply to any person holding the office of President when this Article was proposed by Congress, and shall not prevent any person who may be holding the office of President, or acting as President, during the term within which this Article becomes operative from holding the office of President or acting as President during the remainder of such term.

Section 2.
This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States within seven years from the date of its submission to the States by the Congress.

Breakdown...

This amendment put simply is:

No one is eligible to be President more than twice. This includes anyone that was not elected but filled in for another person that was elected president for at least 2 years of the term. This is considered a full term and that person is ineligible to run for a third term. the amendment does not apply to whoever is in office whenever the 22nd amendment is ratified. This amendment, ratified in 1947, would have become invalid in 1957 if ¾ of the states did not approve it.

22nd Amendment:

• Stops candidates from being elected President after 2 terms.

Exceptions:

• A vice president who serves out less than two years of his predecessor's term is allowed another two terms of his own. (serving 10yrs vs. 8)

More Interesting info relating to this Amendment:

• The Constitution of 1787 set no term limits on the President of the United States. 
• George Washington, voluntarily retired from office after two terms because he did not want to be seen as a King. This established an informal two-term limit that lasted for nearly 150 years.
• Franklin D. Roosevelt got himself elected president four times in a row, serving from 1933 until he died in office in 1945. 

This is a funny image of a small child asking for a term limit on his father. I really don't think term limits would be a good thing in parent cases. A good parent looks out for the child's best interest without it being to the parent's benefit. I child may not appreciate it or enjoy eating his veggies but it is good for him. Whereas in a president's case he does not always look out for the citizens best interest because he cares for them, but because he want's something in return. Sometimes a president won't look out for a citizen's benefit at all.

This is a short video on how some people are looking to do away with the 22nd amendment. The thought behind this is to limit lame duck issues. I believe this would only cause more problems, any person who holds a presidency for 8 years or more would become politically corrupt. They would see themselves as above the people, instead of for the people. I do not say this out of disrespect, I say that a president would stand no chance but to become politically corrupt. He would not necessarily be aware of this change in character. The video below has also brought up some questions as to what the president may be deciding in regards to the 22nd amendment.

21st Amendment

Passed by Congress February 20, 1933. Ratified December 5, 1933.

Section 1.
The eighteenth article of amendment to the Constitution of the United States is hereby repealed.

Section 2.
The transportation or importation into any State, Territory, or Possession of the United States for delivery or use therein of intoxicating liquors, in violation of the laws thereof, is hereby prohibited.

Section 3.
This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by conventions in the several States, as provided in the Constitution, within seven years from the date of the submission hereof to the States by the Congress.

Breakdown...

 You can drink beer now!

The 21st Amendment:

• Only Amendment to repeal a previous (18) Amendment on alcohol prohibition.
• Only Amendment to have been ratified by the method of the state ratifying convention.
• Came about because the organized crime profited most from prohibition.

This image depicts a happy young man with his glass raised seemingly proposing a toast. The sign in the background saying "Good old days are back again!" This image is one that resulted from the ending of the 18th Amendment and the start of the 20th Amendment. I would definitely be happy with the end of prohibition, not only because I could drink, but because the organized crime rings wouldn't be profiting as much.

This image depicts a woman  that stands for American mothers and she is voting against prohibition pointing to a sign that describes prohibition basically as a trap or trail towards destruction. With the close of the 18th amendment many questions have arisen with the marijuana policy. Many people believe this drug should be legal in all states and use the 18th amendment as an example of this belief. I myself do think people should have the option to use marijuana however studies have shown it can cause some brain damage. Nevertheless so can alcohol and dehydration, and many people, especially those who can not afford health care, turn to cheaper drugs for pain relief.

Amendment 20

Passed by Congress March 2, 1932. Ratified January 23, 1933.

SECTION. 1.
The terms of the President and the Vice President shall end at noon on the 20th day of January, and the terms of Senators and Representatives at noon on the 3d day of January, of the years in which such terms would have ended if this article had not been ratified; and the terms of their successors shall then begin.

SECTION. 2.
 The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year, and such meeting shall begin at noon on the 3d day of January, unless they shall by law appoint a different day.

SECTION. 3.
 If, at the time fixed for the beginning of the term of the President, the President elect shall have died, the Vice President elect shall become President. If a President shall not have been chosen before the time fixed for the beginning of his term, or if the President elect shall have failed to qualify, then the Vice President elect shall act as President until a President shall have qualified; and the Congress may by law provide for the case wherein neither a President elect nor a Vice President shall have qualified, declaring who shall then act as President, or the manner in which one who is to act shall be selected, and such person shall act accordingly until a President or Vice President shall have qualified.

SECTION. 4. 
The Congress may by law provide for the case of the death of any of the persons from whom the House of Representatives may choose a President whenever the right of choice shall have devolved upon them, and for the case of the death of any of the persons from whom the Senate may choose a Vice President whenever the right of choice shall have devolved upon them.

SECTION. 5. 
Sections 1 and 2 shall take effect on the 15th day of October following the ratification of this article.

SECTION. 6. 
This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States within seven years from the date of its submission.

Breakdown...

Amendment 20:

• Provides for succession plans if the newly elected president or vice president is unable to assume his or her position. 
• Gives Congress the power to pass legislation outlining a more detailed succession plan if the vice president is also not able to carry out the presidential duties until a new president and vice president are qualified.
• Changed presidents new term from March 4th to Jan 3rd.

lame duck syndrome:

An elected official whose time in an office or position will soon end,(where those who were not reelected had little power to push through their policies).

This is a humorous image depicting a "lame duck" president. I suppose the name does fit the bill seeing as how the president for the time before an election wouldn't really be doing anything productive.

This video explains the 20th Amendment and the lame duck issue. Many people are unaware of how the ratification of the 20th amendment helped in this lame duck issue with the time of basically the President having no power to push for new policies. I experienced this mindset and I'm sure anyone who has put their two weeks notice to their job has too. You know the end is near and you sort of slack off because you know their will not be harsh consequences for your actions.

19th Amendment (women gain the right to vote)

Passed by Congress June 4, 1919, and ratified on August 18, 1920
Section 1.
The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.

Section 2.

Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

Breakdown...

19th Amendment:

• Guarantees all American women the right to vote. 
• By a vote of 56 to 25, the 19th amendment called the Susan Anthony amendment was adopted.

Just a fun fact:
The word  hysteria is derived from the Greek word  hystera, which means uterus. During the late 1800's It was seen as an illness that only affected woman. Dictionary.com defines this word Hysteria as an uncontrollable outburst of emotion or fear, often characterized by irrationality, laughter, or weeping. Just because women choose to show emotion does not mean we are crazy!

Susan B. Anthony: For social equality

• In 1866 she helped initiate the American Equal Rights Association, which campaigned for equal rights for both women and African Americans. 
• In 1869 she helped found the National Woman Suffrage Association as part of a split in the women's movement. 
• In 1890 the organization merged with the rival American Woman Suffrage Association to form the National American Woman Suffrage Association.

These images depict that not everyone looked favorably for women's rights. Many men saw the woman's right to vote as something that would switch the "roles of the woman". Even today there are many (although they would not admit it) that would not see men and woman as equals, respecting them as independent rational beings, with capability to feel and act the same. Many look at woman as objects and do not wish for them to be anything more. In a work place a man may yell at another man and be seen as a good leader, whereas if a woman acts in the same manor they may think she has mental issues, or is just a b****ey person. Just a fun fact the word  hysteria is from the Greek hystera, which means uterus. It was seen as an illness that only affected woman.

This is an image of the day when the 19th amendment was passed by the Senate. I thought it was rather humorous, the man appears nervous to have a group of woman looking over his shoulder. The third woman from the right is looking down as if to say "You better sign that paper!" The man does not appear as happy as the women behind him that seem to have happy, smug, faces. The 19th amendment was more than just the right for women to vote. It was the step towards being seen as equal to men. They did not have that barrier prohibiting them to be seen as equals anymore.

This video is hilarious, don't miss out watching it!

18th Amendment (prohibition of alcohol)

Ratification was certified on January 16, 1919, Amendment took effect January 17, 1920.
SECTION 1.
After one year from the ratification of this article the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United States and all territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes is hereby prohibited.

SECTION 2.
The Congress and the several states shall have concurrent power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

SECTION 3.
This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of the several states, as provided in the Constitution, within seven years from the date of the submission hereof to the states by the Congress.

Breakdown...

The 16th Amendment was pushed by the idea of the 18th Amendment

• Declared the production, transport and sale of (though not the consumption or private possession of) alcohol illegal. 
• Although it was created to limit crime,  police, courts and prisons were overwhelmed with new cases.
• Organized crime increased in power, and police/law enforcement officials became increasingly corrupt.
• This amendment, repealed in 1933 by the Twenty-first Amendment, was the only constitutional amendment that was ever repealed.

Volstead Act-  defined which "intoxicating liquors" were prohibited, and which were excluded from prohibition (wine for communion or other alcohol used for medical purposes).

These images depict instances with prohibition of alcohol. In the first image a mother holds a baby boy in her arms, the words "Help me to keep him pure" are written above them. The next image is of two woman smuggling alcohol, and the bottom image is of a group of woman supporting alcohol with signs protesting saying "We want beer". Although it was mainly woman that protested against alcohol consumption, there were plenty of woman who supported it as well. I would probably be in the bottom picture myself..."Go beer!"

The top image is a group rallied to protest the 18th Amendment. The middle picture is an example of moonshiners. A group of people (organized crime group) that would make and sell alcohol for a profit. To be a moonshiner was a risky business, not only did you have the law enforcement after you, you had other moonshiner groups and even individuals in your group that may kill you or sell you out. The bottom image is of the percentage of crime rates before,during,and after prohibition. As you can see the crime most definitely did not decrease, it increased by 40-50%. I think this has to do with respect. I say this because whenever someone respects me as a rational being that has the capabilities of making good decisions I do not desire to be irrational. I believe they would have had more success in limiting alcohol consumption by educating the population about the negative and positive aspects of alcohol, such as cigarette commercials that are taking place currently educating the population on how it has a negative effect on an individual and the family.

17th Amendment

 Ratified in 1913

The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote. The electors in each State shall have the qualificationsrequisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the State legislatures.

When vacancies happen in the representation of any State in the Senate, theexecutive authority of such State shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies: Provided, That the legislature of any State may empower theexecutive thereof to make temporary appointments until the people fill the vacancies by election as the legislature may direct.

This amendment shall not be so construed as to affect the election or term of any Senator chosen before it becomes valid as part of the Constitution.

 

Breakdown...

 

 

Amendment 17: Popular Election of Senators

• Repealed Article 1 section 3 of the Constitution (only  state legislatures could elected U.S. senators).
• Provided for the direct election of U.S. senators by citizens.
• Senators could no longer "buy a seat."
• Established that if a person had the qualifications for voting for a Senator, his right to vote was not only derived from the laws of the particular State in which they are chosen, but had its foundation in the Constitution of the United States.

Progressivism—the early twentieth-century political movement dedicated to pushing government at all levels toward reform.

 

 

This is a humerous image depicting the view that American citizens are not very intelligent and would rather vote for a popular tv show/competition than for a specific political leader. After the 17th Amendment we have a little more say in who goes to the Senate. I believe American citizens have the same intellectual capabilities but are sent media distractions to defer their thoughts away from a higher order of thinking. We are taught (although no one will admit this) by our society that if we are lower class/middle class citizens it is our duty to follow the rule of others in order to survive. Not to think of solutions that could better our economy or vote for Senators that uphold our values.

 

This image depicts the view that individuals that run for Senate may portray a different image of themselves to the public in order to obtain more votes. I do uphold this view in that although there are good leaders in our society, the individuals that usually run for Senate are wealthy and more concerned about their self-interests, than that of the people. Although some may ratify their decision to run for Senate as a chance to improve the economy, their only fooling themselves. If a Senator made minimum wage would he/she really be there?

 

16th Amendment

Passed by Congress July 2, 1909. Ratified February 3, 1913.

The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration.

Breakdown...

Basic meaning:

1. Congress is allowed to collect some of the money earned by people working in the United States.
2. It doesn’t matter where the money is earned, as long as it is “income."
3. There is no need to share the revenue with the states.
4. The census, a count of all the people that live in the United States that happens every ten years, can’t be used as a basis for distributing taxes on people.

Article I, section 9, of the Constitution was modified by amendment 16.

• Allows the federal government to collect an income tax from all Americans.
• Individuals and cooporations will be taxed without reguard to population.
• States can tax individuals however they want.

Case:

Pollock v. Farmers Loan and Trust Co. 1895


A Massachusetts stockholder named Charles Pollock, worked for the Farmers' Loan and Trust Co. He appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court after  trying to sue his work for filing returns for and paying a federal income tax. This tax was levied with the profits that his work earned, including interest it received from income-producing real estate and bonds of New York City. Pollock said that such a tax, authorized by the Income Tax Act of 1894, was unconstitutional because it was a direct tax upon the property itself (28 Stat. 509). Article I, Section 2, of the U.S. Constitution mandated that all direct taxes be apportioned among the several states and Section 8 of the same article required that direct taxes be uniform. Pollock argued and the Supreme Court agreed that this tax did not satisfy either requirement. The tax was levied upon the rents or income of real property held by particular corporations and businesses and was, in effect, a direct tax upon the real property itself. The United States had no constitutional power to tax either state instrumentalities or property.
 The Supreme Court ruled that the Income Tax Act of 1894 violated the Constitution and that the taxes imposed pursuant to it were void. It reversed the decree of the federal circuit court and remanded the case.Congress recognized the need for a constitutional provision permitting the levy of federal income tax without Apportionment among the several states. It took, however, eighteen more years before there was sufficient support for the passage of the Sixteenth Amendment.



This humerous image depicts the view that many people suffer to pay taxes at the beginning of every year. Many people wish there were no mandatory takes, however, I belive although the tax system may not be completely fair especially in property taxes, it does help our country in many areas.



This image depicts the view that Legislators do not have much common sense when they devise tax laws. In my opinion Legislators do not always think of the Country's overall benefit when proposing a tax law.




For more information visit:

http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Pollock+v.+Farmers'+Loan+%26+Trust+Co.

http://www.law.cornell.edu/supremecourt/text/158/601

15th Amendment

Proposed February 26th, 1869, ratified on February 3rd, 1870
Section 1.
The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.
Section 2.
The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

Breakdown...
 
First African-American to vote was Thomas Mundy Peterson on March 31, 1870 in Perth Amboy, NJ.

• Gave the right Vote to African Americans
• Did not prohibit Southern States from placing mandatory poll taxes to keep African American's/specific social classes from voting.
• Conditioned the territory of Nebraska into the Union.

This image depicts the harsh reality that although African Americans were given the right to vote under the 15th Amendment, they really did not have a good leader that was for African American rights at the time.


This image (the words are difficult to read) depicts that although black men were given the right to vote, most of whom could not even read or write, woman who for the most part more educated at the time were still prohibited from voting. The black men are seemingly pushed to vote for a particular party without knowledge of that party, you can see the white men with their smug seemingly rude faces holding on to the clothes of the black man pointing toward the ballot box seemingly manipulating their votes, while another white man holds his hand up to halt a group of young woman in line to vote.